Method and apparatus for sizing or volumetric grading of materials.



G. L. MGKESSGN z B. F. MCE.

METHOD AND PPARATUS POR SIZING 0R YOLUMETRIG GRADING GF MATEBXALS.

APPLICATION FILM) JUNI: 1, 1912.

1,044,067... Patented N0v.12,1912.

G. L. MUKESSON (if. B. F. RICE.

y METHOD AND APPARATUS POR SIZING 0R VOLUMETRIC GRADING OP MATERIALS.

APPLICATION PQLBDJUNE 1, 1912.

1 ,044,067. Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

S SHEBTS*SHEET 2.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FR SIZING OR VOLUMBTRO GRADING 0F MATERIALS` C. L. MGKESSON @L B. Fg RGE.

Fatented NOV.12,1912.

APPLICATION FILED J'UNB 1, 1912.

SHEETS-SHEET a.

* C. L; MGKESSON da B. F. RICE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZINGv OR VOLMETRIG GRADING 0F MATERIALS.

A PPPP CA N PII E D J U N E l, 1912. 1,944,057. Patented N0v.12,1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l C. L. MGKESSON & B. I'. RICE. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING OR VOLUMETRIC GRADING 0F MATERIALS.

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912. 1,044,067.

8 SHEET S-SHEET 5.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

C. L. MGKESSON 6L B. F. BE. I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING 0R VOLUMETRIG GRADING OF MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNEL 1912. 1,044,067. I I I Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

C. L. MGKESSON & B. F. RICE. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING 0R VOLUMETRIC GRADING OP MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912. 1,044,067, Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

- 8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

C. L. MGKESSON & B. P. RICE. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING 0R VOLUMETRIC GRADING OF MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912. 1,044,067.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.'

CHARLES L. MQKESSON AND BENJAMIN F. RICE, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIZING OR VOLUMETRIC GRADING OF MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.12,1912.

Application filed June 1, 1912. Serial No. 701,003.

Be it known that we, Clmnnns L. MolinssoN and BnNJ.\i\UN F. Riou, both citizens ot the United States, and residents oit' (lolorado Springs, county of El Paso, State ot Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Sizing or volumetric Grading of Materials; and we do hereby dec-lare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it. appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for grading or sizing solid materialsaccording to the volumes of the ditt'erentbodies ranging from material in pulverulent -form to -material comprising sections or pieces of large size, the object being to deliver all materials of Whatever nature or character, having the same volume or size, together, without respect to the Weights or specific vgravities of the respective materials.

As heretofore practised, the art of sizing or grading material according to the respective volumes of the constituents thereof,

has been practised by means of screens of varying mesh, or by means of the so-called hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus involving the settling principle, and so far as We are advised, no simple and efficient mechanical means, other than the screens referred to, has ever been devised for ett'ecting an automatic separation and grading of various materials according to the sizes or volumes of. the Aconstituent elements and Without regard to any difference in Weight or specific gravity of the materials being separated or graded. By means of the present invention, however, it is possible to separate a heterogeneous mass of materials in various degrees of subdivision, into separate classes or portions, each class or portion containing all ofthe heterogeneous materials possessing ,the same volumetric values,l or in the alternative, to separate materia-ls of the 'same general character into separate classes'or portions, each class. ori

portion containing only elements,-particles, or grains of the same size, and the several classes or portions-in both cases (littering from each other only as to the volumes or sizes otthe individual elements.

To illustrate by concrete example, it has been found that, by a proper application of the principles upon which the present invention is based, a commercial grading, according to the size or volume may be effected with all kinds of materials, Whether separate or in admixture, such `asseeds, grain, vegetables, fruits, coal,.ores, rocli gravel, sand and salt,'and in fact, anyan ing drawings, in which,

Figures 1, l and 3 are diagrams illustrating some ol the funda-mental principles. Fig. fl is a perspective view ot' a simplified form ot apparatus by means of 'which a more or less otter-tive sizing may be produced. .Fig 5 is a diagram illustrating the application ot one phase of the invention. Fig. (i is a side elevation of one :form of lsizing table involving the invent-io; Figi 7 is an enlarged fragmentary"perspective view ot' a sizing table. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating one mode of laying out Aand constructing the elements forming the main deectors and the supplemental corrugations constituting the sizing surface of the table. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a single surface sizing table. Fig. 9a is a perspective vienr of one of the detiectors and its associated corrugations. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation vof the table illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a longitudinal section through a simple form of head motion. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a double surface table. Fig. 13 is a plan View of the same, with the corrugations or ridge-'like members omitted. F ig. 14 is an end view of the double sur tace table, and Fig. 15 is a similar View illustrating the lapplication 'of' superposed double surface tables.

Upon the assumption that an exposition ofthe broad principles underlying the invention will tend in a large measure to simplify the more specific descri tion of the process and the apparatus invo ved therein, the following statement is deemed desirable.

It has been found that the substitution of airf-for Water as a medium' of separation of materials according to difference of spelrity oit the air, con'il'iared-with that. o' Saler. This is aptly cl'iaracterined hy Dr. {lehnt-ds, the recognized authority on siz rie'1 in his staten'ient that the eti'eetet eiisity in water equivalent to the elilect t velocity on air.77 Consequently the dit'- erence inthe velocities out particles ot the aine size hut et dillerent specific pravities, n 'falling through the atii'iosphere i'or a di ance oil say ten to twelve i' l se ein reine-.ly slight as to he hardly noticeable nd7 ttor all practical purposes, does not [flhere is, however7' a decided litternce in the Velocity ci a large particle as 'onnmred to a small particle. '.lfhis may he :.xeinplilied hy dropping a sinall quantity o'l granular material on a sinoolh inclined sui ece, and it. will he lI .nd that the lareer airlicles 'will roll or slide along; the surta Iasl'er than the next sn'mller particles, and

and iiir-.lnding the line dust or granlich 'will he :fou-nd to leave the sur` ace the niaterial could he stopped in its course Clown the incline, an examination would shew a regular gradation ot particles, accordingj to size, beginning with the coarsest particles at a point farthest down the in line and ending with the tine dust-like particles al. the pointnearest to Where the inaterial was 'led to the incline, with the inter mediate sizes regularly distritnited between these extremes7 according to the respective sizes thereof. '.l`his principle is exemplified in Fig. il, in which the line O illust-rates an, inclined plane upon which particles of varying sizes frein l to l2 are permitted to slide, and the sliding motion arrested alter a predetermined. period, when the disposition oil1 the particles will he ifound to he that indicated, with the largest particles Z at the bottoni and the sn'iallest. particles near the top, in the regular order of the sizes ot the Arespective particles Assume that the inclined plane upon which the material is dropped is given substantial length and breadth and has imparted to it a dilierential reciprocating motion, such as will ycause the material thereon to he advanced in a generally horizontal direetioin, at the sanne tnne that it is permitted to slidel down the plane, and an eti'ectis produced such as diagrainnnitically illustrated n Fig. 2, in which A illustrates the inclined plane provided with means V connected to said plate at \V to impart a reciprocating motion to the latter in a. longitudinal direction. The material ot varying sizes is fed at the point (l, located at. the high corner of the table A, at the end opposite to which it would he prop led b'y the differential reciproeating motion imparted to said surface, it' the latter were acting' alone.

Y smaller the piece or particle of the material p From an inspec tien of the diagram, 1t will, he noted that the dropped on the tahle.1 the farther said parv ticle will he advanced toward the end ot the inclined surfaceopposite the lfeed, lie-- tore leavinel said surface, due to the tart that the smaller the piece or particle, the longer it takes to ruissdown the incline, and etnsequentlyl` the long r it is subject to the progressive action ol' the recipromiting inev tion. As the result, the particles will leare the lower edge ol. lthe inclined surface or the lateral inclined odge thereoit at dillerent points, and at dillerent intervals el" time. as diagraiinnatlically indicated in hig. 2., the largest particles passing incre directly down the incline and discharging over the. lower edge first` und the succo ely einaller particles leaving,l the lower edge oi' the taille at successively longer intervals; oi' time and at ditl'erent points l, il, 3, el to ll, as indicated7 while the very small partit-hs 'will 'oe ultimately discharged over the rea;- lateral edge olf the table.

lty has heen gl'ennd that with a deelt or surface oi ,suliicient length and ln'eadtli, dis posed and operated as in the diagram illustrated in Fig. l, a yery .fair character olf sizing may lit-accomplished, huty the capacityA an'd output ot' such a table is coni paratively low, and it is found that, to an appreciable degree, the specilic gravity and general vshape of the particles interfere to ail'ect an ultimate grading or sizing of the products.

lt is evident that. il the tirst principle enunciated alone were tolloneffh and the niaterial permitted to nierely slide down an inclined surilface in a substantially straight line,'no separat-ion could he accomplished, as the feed would necessarily 'hare to be in'- terlnittent, and the. products4 would constantly re-inix alter leavinpthe inclined surface, but by imparting)y to the surface substantial length and breadth, associated with a dill'erential reciprocation in the direction of its length, a continuous feed. of material may he ell'ecled and the different sized particles are carried iftuu'ard on the surface in direct proportion to the respecftiye tilnes it requires for the separate elel'neiits to pass down the direct incline. As theresultant oi the influence of gravity and the progressive action ofthe diliferential re ciprocatingl motion imparted to the surface A', illustrated. in Fig. 2, the Various sized particles will passorer the table in courses conventionally illustrated hy the vlines O1, O2, O3, ete., in reoular ordervand sequence, the largest particles discharging first in point of tinie and nearest the feed end of the table, and the finest particles discharg- 'ing last in point of time and at a point fan thest from the feed end of the'tlable.

It is a recognized fact that with granular materlal, en masse, when subjected to a shaking or reciprocating motion such as will ./natural line of travel. This action may be when it Will be found that the material would be effected more expeditiously and the `same .upon a series of supporting links which l said-material, all pieces or particles of said selective action or stratification is materially parted to an inclined plane such as A in 'Ward direction, encounters in its travel across cause the material to be generally agitated, the finer material will report at the bottom of the mass and the coarser at the top. This accelerated by imparting to the material projecting pulsations, suchJas will cause the material to be thrown out ot contact with the surface upon which it yrests and at the same time subjecting the material to a shaking or reciprocating mot-ion. The effect of such an action 'on divided material en masse is very pronounced and very quickly sepa' rates the coarse material from'entanglement With the finer mat rial, leaving the different size particles or elements free to assume their exemplified byplacing a conglomerate body of irregular sand, shot, or the like in a glass tube or bottle and shaking the container' with an oscillatory and reciprocating movement,

quickly separates so as to bring the finest material at the bottom and the coarsest. material at the top, with the other grades, according -to size, regularly disposed between these extremes.

lt is evident from the foregoing that it a differential reciprocating motion be im- Fig. 2, of a character which would not only advance the material in 'a generally horizontal direction, .but Would' also at the same time, project such material in a generally vertical direction, the separation of the maerial according to the volumes orlsizes of the individual elements composing the same,

disentanglement of the coarser and finer ina-- terialsiivould he more quickly accomplished. This desired motion of the laterally inclined table A may be effected by mounting the are each secured to a rigid base at the one end v[and to the inclined surface at the other, the 'links being set at an angle to the vertical so as toY produce an upward movement of the talle when'the latter is moved in the direction -the material is to loel advanced, and a downward movement When the table is moved the opposite direction by a simple form ofihead motion.

lVe have discovered that, if granular or divided material, fed on an inclined table to Which a differentialreciprocating and rising and falling motion, as just described, is imparted, so as .to impart to the materialprojecting pulsations in a forward and upsaid surface an incline or rip-grade located in and extending acrossI said surface, or transversely to the direction ot travel of material up to a .certain bulk or volume, depending upon the incline ot the grade enural line of travel over the surface, to aV 'Y other obstructing*incline of sufficient pitch A to divert tlieu trom their horizontal line of travel. A ,'simple form of apparatus involving the application otl this principle is `exemplified in Fig. 4 which consists of a table` A having thereon a series of trans verse rib-like members F, each consisting ot' ,an upwardly inclined face j' terminating in a'vertical ,Wall f, the pitch or inclination ot' the faces f of the successive rib-like members increasing toward the righthand end ofJthe table A sothat the ribs or deflectors F successivelyl increase in pitch or inclination, the one pf lowest pitch being nearest the feed end of the table, while the one of great est pitch is at the opposite end of the table. Material of varying sizes fed at the upper left hand corner otl the table A in Fig. 4, Will Vfirst assume the several courses, accord- ,cording to the size of the particles, as indi- ,cated in Fig. 2, but when a rib or deflect-or F having a grade of suflicient pitch is reached, to obstnuct tlie passage of the largest particles or pieces of the material, the said largest particles are arrested in their fpr- Ward course and diverted t'o a course parallel to the arresting rib or deflector F. By successively increasing the pitch or inclination of the ribs or deflectors, it will be apparent that each will selectively arrest and divert pieces or particles ot' a given size to cause the' same to be discharged from its lower end, as exemplified in Fig. 4, in which l to 11 indicates particles, gradually de creasing in size, which are discharged from the successive inclines or deflectors. This effect is produced by balancing the force of gravity with the progressive or propelling force acting upon the particles or pieces of ymaterial passing over the table.

" The phenomenon is exemplified diagrammatically in Fig. 3, in which fr represents a given particle which is successively applied to four planes, l, 2, 3, 4. Assume the torce of gravity acting upon said particle, in the direction indicated by arrow Z to be 40, and a progressive or ,forwardly propelling torce acting in the direction of the arrow Y, to be QG. To a particle on plane l, the effect of gravity upon the particle m would be indicated bythe friction between the particle and the plane, while the progressive torce would he Q0 niinussaid clement of friction. lf the plane-be tilted in the successive positions represented by 2, 3 and 4, the comcountered, ,will be diverted from their natponent of gravity acting onthe bo'dya1 rest ing' on said' plane, will be increased in pros portion to the inclination oit the plane. Assume that the component'l of gravity acting on the particle while the planes are in a position 'l and l to be l() and 'l5 respectively, while the progressive force is still :20, it will he evident that the particle will be controlled by the progressive torce and the body .t would be dri ven :torward oil of the plane. When the inclination ot the plane, however, reacties position ll, where the 'value of the zgravity component equals 2t) and therefore balances that ot the progressive torce, the body will remain stationary on the plane, and any diminution el" the progressive torce or any increase ot the inclination of the plane will cause the body to slide down the plane. lt will be noted,therefore, that a distinct line ot" lemai'cation or separation is eli'ected by the plane at inclination 4: between particles largijcr than fr and particles smaller than a'. All particles larger than c would he controlled by the preponderant value ot gravity and would move down the plane l, while all particles smaller than w would be subjected to the prepoi'ulerance ot the iii'ojecting or propulsive i'orce and would 'pass over and beyond the inclination 4, From the foregoing, it is obvious that a larger particle would require less inclination of the plane on which it rests to balance the two i'orces, namely propulsion and gravity, and a. smaller' particle will require a` greater inclination of the plane to elfect the balance of the forces aforesaid.

The application ot' the foregoing principles, exemplified in the laterally inclined table to which there is imparted a ditlerential reciprocating motion associatcd'with an upward-movenient in the forward or workin;` stroke of the table to apply projecting pulsations in a forward and upward direc-A tion to the materials, said table being' provided on its surfaceL with a series oi' trans verse de'tlectors having progressively increasing inclinations, produces a selective action on the material governed bythe vol- -ume or bulk of the individual elements or particles of the material irrespective of the vCri specilic gravityl thereof, 'and it will be apparent that it the several principles beso" applied and the apparatus so constructed and arranged as to prevent or overcome the interference or entanglement ot the pieces or particles of varying size, an absolute and inal volumetric Se}j)iiration-and sizing will be possible and commercially feasible. TheA first principle enunc1ated,to wit, thatlarge particles 'travel down the inclined surface'ot' the table faster than the' smaller particles, may be applied-to best advantage to .effect a rough separation."wliich is rendered olitec tive-hyjixnparting a ditferential reciprocaH tory'motion to the table, so that all of the particlestravel forward as well as downward over the table. A. more delinitc and pronounced separation will result `from the application of the third principle of action, to Wit, the projecting 'pulsations delivered to the particles by gi ing the table a slight upward movement simultaneously with its forward movement, which has the ctl'ect ot top of the mass and the line n'iaterial at the bottom, with the intermediate products in between. 'lhis last action eliminates in a measure the tendency ot' the various sized products to become entangled. The application ot the fourth principle, to wit, the interposition of the deflectors of successively increasing inclination, in the path of the particles will arrest tlie'successive particle', accordingr to their respective sizes, in thei 1' .courses over the table and divert them to` ward 'the ultimate points of discharge, such .arresting being etl'ected by the balancing of the component of gravity on the respective Aparticles with the progressive or propulsive force, by the interposition ot the inclined surfaces of the dellectors running trans versely of the table. lhe lirst rough separz` tion of the material should be allowed to continue until the separation is sutlicient to enable the other separating operations to talreup and complete the sizinfr. Then this point is reached, to wit, the rough sizing, the tirst principle should become practically inoperative, cnd all further separation or sizing should'be etl'ected by the other agents or operations.

'lo eliminate the tli'it principle of operation a'tter the preliminary rough. sizii'ig has been eli'ected, and to admit ot a more direct application of the projecting pulsations applied by the table to the material, the `1neli'ned surfaces ot the dellectors are provided with gene 'ally transverse corrugatlcns or ridges which introduce the final principle of the mechanical sizing; operation. These corrugat ins or ridges may be given various i'orms and shapes and relative arrangement, as will be hereinafter more particularly de scribed. lhe particular functions ot the corrugations or ridges are manifold, but they coactwith the other element-s hereinbellore set forth to etl'ectthe ultimate separation of the material on. the table strictly accoi-dingl to the size or volume ot the elements thereof. Primarily, they provide a positive ,neans for eliminating' or susl'ieiu'ling the action ot' the first principle, to wit, tliciliil'erential movement oi the material down the '.-inclined table accordine to the size of the elements thereot', after the roughingl opel".- tion is completed. 'For an exljilanation of this principle', re lfrence is 'made to Fig. 5, which is a diagram ot the corrugations or ridges G, applied to the inclined surface of a dctlector F, the. said corrugations or ridges l having a general cross section ot' an isosceles causing the coarse material to report at the triangle and gradually increasing in height fronrtlie upper or feed end O of the deflector F to the lower or discharge end of-tlie same. Assume that foin-'particles y, w, y'. have beendelivered to the corrugated surface of said deiector as shown, that the linesI t, s', t represent the direction of the component of gravity acting upon the several particles and therefore pass through the centers of gravity of the said particles; it is obvious that so long as the center of gravity of a given particle falls to the .right of the apex of the corrugat-ion against which the particular particle is lodged, the said particle can not pass overthe obstructing corrugation, but on the contrary, if the center of gravity of a given particle falls to the left of the apex of the interposed corrugation, the movement of the particle lwill nct'be arrested bythe said corrugation, but will be continued' until a corrugation 1s reached, on which the particle will lodge Iin a position in 'which its center of gravity lies to the rightof the apex. Byreference tol Fig. 5, it will be apparent? that the particlek will be restrained in its downward movement-'between the firstand second ridges or. corrugations, while the 'particle y will pass over the second corrugation and'find` lodgment against the first corrugation, whose apex is sufficiently high to prevent the center of gravity y extendingA over the saine. Similarly, the particle y will be restrained by the last ridge or corrugation in the series, for the reason that its center of gravity falls to the right or inside a vertical line vthrough the apex of the last corruga'tion,

while the particle m', whose center of gravity lies in the vertical `line s', will not be restrained bythe corrugation, and said particle w will pass overthe saine. By employingcorrugations or ridges of gradually increasing height, as indicated in Fig. 5, the

' elimination of the first principle, to Wit,

the sliding movement Iof the elements of the mass down the inclined plane, 1s likewise gradual, beginning'by eliminating .the ef- .feet aforesaid upon the fine material and gradually increasing to the coarse. In operating upon some 'classes of material, it may be desirable to employ corrugat-ions of the same size from top to bottom of the deflectors, in which case, if the corru ations are of siich dimensions as to bring t ie centers of gravity of all the particles to the right of the'apexes of-the corriigations or ridges, the timev required to-complete the `elimination of the sliding of the particles down the deflectorwill depend upon the amountA of material the corrugations are capable of holding. f A" v A further very important function or effect gf the corrugations or ridges is that they admit of a direct and continued application ofprinciple of stratification of material en masse with the finer material reporting at the bottom and the coarser material at the top, when the material is subjected to a vertical shaking motion such as is given to the table at the saine time it is reciprocated. It is evident that if a perfectly smooth surface on the table or on the deflcctors F were employed, ythis principle of vertical stratifcation or sizing would be applicable only in the near vicinity of the point of feeding the material where the `latter is in considerable mass. and before it has had time to spread out in a thin sheet with practically all of the individual pieces or particles resting directly upon the separating surface. Again, ifa smooth surface were employed, having the' necessary lateral inclination, instead of the material receiving the full effeet ofi-tliefvertical movement of the table, l

thereby causing the said material to be proyected inv a generally vertical direction, there 'would a-tcndency for the material to ,slide directly down over the tablesurface,

terial is discharged either into the succeeding pocket on the next deflector, or into the pocket below it ori the saine deflector. lThis action is exemplified in the enlarged fragmentary section of the table illustrated in Fig. 7 which shows portions of tivo adjacent deflectors F, the inclined surfaces f of which arc provided with ridges o'i' corrugat-ions G. The adjacent inclined surfaces of the two loweriiiostridges or oorrugations G on the first deflcctor F form. a V-shaped pocket, defined by thc lines l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The line i/-y represents the plane of the mean level of the ymaterial held in the pocket between the two corrugations aforesaid. It will be noted that the relation of the corrugat-ions to the surface of the deflector Fis such that a portion of the edge 1, 2, to wit, a distance from 1 to 7 4lies below the plane y, y, so that the portion ofthe edge l to 7 provides a spllway for the material at the top of the mass into the next adjacent pocket below, which lat-ter has been omitted tol avoid complication. The material at the bottom of the mass,

however, cannot pass over this spillway, but

is permitted to escape from the pocket throughvanother spillway defined by the open` end ofthe pocket, 2, 5, 4, through which the material at the top of themass cannot pass, because of the longitudinal inclination of the plane 1, 2, 5, 6, which inclination, ofcourse, is longitudinally the same as that of the upper surface f of de- {lect-or F. When the projecting pulsations,

due to the ditlerentihl motion of the table, are imparted to the material in the pocket aforesaid, the coarser particles or elements report at the top of the mass and ass over the spillway l to 7 to the next poc et below on the same deilector, where the operation o is repeated, While the :liner particles report at the bottoni. of the mass and are carrled over the spillivay 2, 5, 4l into the pocketifon the succeeding detlector, Where itis again subjected to the same action. i From the foregoing, it will be' seen that the portion' of the inclined surface of the lowcrlnost ridge or corrugation Gr, defined by the lines 7h91, QMS, and 8H? effects the division between the elements or particles of the material, all particles as large or larger than ci passing; over the. corrugation or ridge between the points l and 7, While all particles y, smaller than a," pass into the adjacent pocket on the succeeding detlector.

It. Willlie observed that the plane defined bythe face, l, 2, 5, 6, 'oit the lowcrneost corruga'tion or rih Gr 'likewise has a longitudinal inclination equal to that oi the surface oit the delleetor F, so that the principle ot operation ol the said inclinedsurface f applies directly to the material in the pocket between the ridges or eorrupgal-ions. To illustrsirtc; to a particle af the longitudinal inclination ot the plane, l, 5, (i, is sutileientto more than halance the component GDA of the force ot `gravity with the progres' sive torce, therefore all particles as large or larger than particle .'n, occupying the 4o pocket. will he controlled hy gravity, and al.-

though such a particle, as ,.c, he Carried for- Ward in the pocket, it will, upon reaching that portion ot the plane defined by the' points, 2, 7, 8, he ln'ought under the influence -ot` the pretloniinating torce and returned down the pocket, to he discharged with the other particles of the saine or larger size. (ln the other hand, in so the particles g/ and e are concerned, the longitudinal inclination ot' the plane, l, 2', 5, 6, is not sufiicient to balance the 'torce of `gravity with the progressive :torce aforesaid, and the said particles are, therefore, controlled by the latter force and are carried .torward over the spillway, 2, 5, 1l, into the succeeding,y pocket on the next dcileetor F, andso on, until a plane of su'tlicient inclination, defined by the pitch of the top surface f of a deficctor F, is encountered that will cause the particles to he discharged over the respective spill- Ways corresponding to spillnjay definedl hy the line 1.-7 which 'spillways will, of course, be located upon the ridgesor corrugations ot the respective restraining detlectors F. linisniueh as the inclination of the deflectors F increases progres. vely, that is ti say, the pitch of the top sui acc f of eacl deilector 1s greater than that ol the next pre ceding detl'eotor, it will he apparent that tir longitudinal inclination of each plane of corrugation or ridgeGr, correspoinling t plane, 1*, 2; 5, 6, will progressively incre-as` on the successive deleetors. As the inel nation of the plane, 72, (fr, in a longitn dinal direction, is upward, a particle travel ing over this plane, or the eorrespomlin,y plane in any other ridge or eorrugation ty will be discharged from the delleetor at point higher up thanithal.- at which tn said particle began *its courseini'er said lr flector. Thus a particle e traveling tron apoint o to a point 5, at Vwhich itI is di.C charged `from sain. dclleetor to the next sin eceding deilector, has traveled in its coun across said dctlector, a. distance up on sai detleetor erna] to 5--1(). 'This inelinatio progressively ii'iereases on the 'successive di, tleetore, thus enabling a fine particle' Whit2 may have been carried dem: out of its no: nia` Lone hy entanglement or other infll ences, to gradually work haelt up on the dec or tahle surface as it is carried forwari until itinally reaches .its proper point f discharge, which will he delined hy the di lleetor F over which it will not he carried h the projecting or propelling 'force imparte to the table. From the t'oregrping, it will l aj'iparent that uliile the arrannmiient. ge! eral proportimis and relations4 et the corri nations or ridges on 4the individual delle tors or on suceesive dellerlors may vary, i meet the requirements ot' diierent indu tries, they nevertheless, in each ease. provh :i iery etl'ectire nre-ans for applyingn ar eliminating the dill'erent prinriph" et' op' v4ration involved .in the proirees ol" sizing tl mass ol material, according; to the rohnn of' the different. eleinents. An ell'cctivc a rangement oi the dcfleetors and oi the an@` lar disposition of the ridges or corr L'atiof thereon, `with respect to the deck. is illu traled in Fig. S, in which indicates tl deelt or table haring theremi dellertor., numbered l to 17 inclusive.` the longitinlin lines ot' which radiate ifi-om a ronunon renti O, which renders it possible to ernjjiloy 'I doctors of uniform height and i' ihstantial uniform Width, but of progrI ely inerea ine inclination., The longitiulinal lines d iiningfihe corrugations G also radiate fro the common centers O to (lt-T inclusive, :i of thelines defining the ridges or cor-rug 'tions on deflector l\'o. l radiating from t? Center O', andr all of the ridges or corrug tions on detlector F being,lr defined hy lin radiating from center O9, and so on. Tl construction makes the inclination of t planes corresponding to il, x?, 5, (l, in Fig` progressivelyincrease for each sueeeedi delimiter, ondjalsc produces a progressivi increasing inclination of the said plane on each ridge or deeetor from the bottom to the top of each individual defiector.' In the diagram in Fig. 8, it will be noted that but one line of the extreme upper and lower ridges or corrugations for any given de- Hector is indicated to avoid confusion, but it Will be understood, of course, that the longitudinal lines for all of the ridgesv or corrugations for a given deflector are drawn from the same connnon center, therefore, the same broad and general disposition of ridges or corrugations willv be found upon each ofthe deflectors, and in order to provide the increasing inclination of the ridges or corrugations, not-only on the individual defiect-ors,.but on successive defiectors, Athe centers from Which the longitudinal defining lines of the ridges 0r corrugations on successive deflectors are struck, change from O to O, upon an arc struck from O as a center.

In Fig. G, there is illustrated aseparating deck or table provided with defiectors F', each having' on it-s surface corrugations Ggboth the defiectors and corrugationsbeing laid down and defined according to the method just described and illustrated in Fig. 8, thev radiating lilies for some of the defiectors and some of the corrugations being indicated. lf the deck or table illustrated in Fig. G have imparted to it a longitudinal reciprocation combined with the rocking motion to cause it to rise' slightly during the forward motion to impart the described projecting impulses to the pieces or particles of material fed en moese to the table at a point marked W, the material will be subjected .to the action of the various principles of operation hereinbefore enumerated, and effective separation of the elements of the mass according to their respective will be accomplished. A coarse particle fed to the table at WV would take acourse W to Xif it should encounter no interferingelement, such as the inclined surfaces of the defiector and the corrugations thereon, but sai'dc/oarse particle upon encountering the inclined surface of the first deflector with vthe corrugations G there-` on is diverted from its normal course to one parallel tothe 'incline encountered, represented by llT-"X, for the reason that the impulses imparted to *said particle are insufficient to carry thempover the first deflector For a smaller particle, the natural course across the separate surface would be laf-?, but upon encountering a grade of a defiector of sufficient inclinatidn to arrest the forward course, the said particle is d1- verted to a. course Ulf-Y', the latter portion of which is parallel with said defiector," Should this particle, by reasonrof entanglement with the ymaterial en masse, be carried out of its'natural line of travel,

fact that the inclined surface which caused it to change its course was higher upon the deck than in the case of the saine sized particle following the normal course W-Y.

-The natural line of travel of the finest material would be that indicated by the line` VV-Z, but, owing to the progressively increasing inclination of each succeeding de-v flector and corrugation, the finest particles are caused to t-ake a course almost straight across the deck, as indicated at VV-Z.` Should it occur that a fine particle is carried down any of the first series of defiectors because ofd entanglement, as soon as it is freed' by the selective action of the defiectors and corrugations, it will assume a course represerited'by the line lV-Z2 and be. disxharged 4with all of the other finest particlps. Thus `it is evident that the apparatus as described affords ample opportunity for all pieces or particles Which may be carried out of their proper zone or course by entanglement to work back to the proper zone before the final point of discharge is reached. l

Figs. 9 to ll of the drawings illustrate a commercial form of table involving the principles hereinbefore set forth, and adapt.- ed to carry out the sizing process defined. Referring to said figures, A indicates the separating deck or table comprising a top a supported by longitudinal ribs a and end ribs a?, all of which may be constructed of either Wood or metal of appropriate size and shape, as the conditions of operation preferably at or adjacent the longitudinal ribs a are secured pendant brackets b, which in turn are connected by links B to pedes# -tals or ybrackets o' rigidly secured to a base or foundation C, which latter may be of any appropriate form. The relation of the respective links and ,brackets on opposite sides of the table is such /asto cause any lateral inclination ofthe table, found desirable, according to the character of the ,materialto be operated upon. "It Will be 'understood that the inclination of the'k table is'in a direction substantially transverse t0 ,that of its reciprocatory movement. The function of the links B is to impart a relatively small upward movement of the table duringthe forward half of its reciproca. tion, and a corresponding downward movement-,during the return movement of the taole, the two movements, namely reciprocationand rocking producing the projecting pulsations necessary to bellmparted to the separated. p i

The desired motion is imparted to the table by lmeans of any suitable head motion, such asemployed in concentrator tables and the like, motion is illustrated in detail vin Fi headmotion -D comprises a base 11. This in which.

there is Journaled a crank shaftc?, carrying driving pulleys d. Mounted on the crankedconne :ed by its rearwardgnide rod al, l connection d, to a reciprocating 1hicli at its rearward fte y'olzes nl, which latter are cont to the under side ot the separating i' at approximately tho center thereof. v means oi the foregoing arrangement, nation ci the crankshaft (Z2 imparts v'reniprocation to the trame (Z5, which with the ctimnccting lrod rl12 .imparts a 't3 corresa'iornling reciprocating motion to thc decl; or table A, and inasmuch the latter supiiiun'ted by tl'ielinks B, which linlrs ha e a normal inclination toward thc head motion l), will 'impart to the table or deck, `siinnltainunisly with its reciprocating motion s motion being` limited to the first half or toruard portion ot' the reciprocation of the table, While the falling motion transpircs during the return lial't'vof the reciprocationf The head motionlD is preteral'ily placed at an angle to the bed C, so as to bring its lmgiiudinal axis to a line substantially,

tangenty to the arcs described by .the linltstll at al point, `midway oftheir travel. In order to cushion and steady the table or deck in its return movement, there are provided on each sido et the table rodsji which lare pivotally connected to the brackets b, and at their lowercnds pass through and have a tree different clementsjofhe material` to be and an effective form of such head.

portion of the shaft al is a pendant levend` which is connected at its lowerend to toggle.'

motion of the frame d?. The latter' end is conrising and falling motion, the rising 'or other feed device E,

parted to the peccts or operations predicated upon the lateral' inclil'iation o'l the table, the inclined l metal.

sliding movement in guide brackets h2 mounted upon the bed (l. Cushioning springs'fi aro mounted upon said rods, which latter are provided with adjusting nuts h to regulate the tension on the said springs. A similar cushioning ettect may be applieddirectly to the head motion by intorposing a cushioningy spring'd4 between a pendant arm d1 of the traino il and an abutment on an adjusting rod (Zi-7' moui'itcd in' the base plate ot' the head motion, and

passing tl'irougli the pendant arm ffm.

The material to be graded or sizedis fed to the upper (-,tuuer ot the table or dccl adjacent the head motion by means ot' a spout y and isiimmcdiately subjected to the projecting pulsations imtablc, and to the separating dctlectors on' the table and the ridges ox" cor- 85 rugations on the dcflectors as hereinbefore described, tothe ellect that the'material is graded or sized strictly according to the volunies ot the pieces or particles forming the mass. All. particles ot a given size or voluru'e, irrespective oli' thc diilerenccs of specitic gravity thereof, are discharged from the :toot oli a given dellector, or, in the case ofthe iinesi. material, are discharged over the rearward lateral edge ot' the table.

lIn the particular llorln of apparatus illustrated in Figs. il lo 'l l, the dcflectors F are shown ot substantially uniform width along their base lines, but ot' progressively incrcas- 100 ing. inclination so that the defiectors nearest the'leed or head motion cnd of the table are the lowest and those at the rear end of the table are hi ghost,

As ill ustrated in Fig. t), the ridges or corrugations G on the detlectors are oi' substantially the same height throughout the length ol each detlector, but, as hercinhetorc indicalcd, the ridges or vcorrugations on a given dcllector may progressively increase in height 'from the .top edge to the bottom edge ot the table. and similarly, if found desirablcp'thc ridges cr corrugations on successite detlcctors nuiydecrease in height. ln all casest however, the corriigations are so disposed as to torio a series of pockets running substantially transverse to'the length of the dcllectors. These ridges or corrngations may be formed on the individual deflectors by facing the latter with sheets of rubber or the like on which the corrugations of approprivate shape. and'size arc formed, or the said ridges or eorrugations may be worked directly into the material of the deectors by suitable channeling or routing tools. ,In fact, the entire deck surface, 'or the individual deflectors may be made by pressing, casting, or molding to the desired form, if 1t is found preferably to construct the deck of In short, the deck or table and its there are two separatingl ce associated detlectors and corrugnitious may the tahle to the rear end of the same and oe constructed ot' any suitaiie. torni or iaaterial, and 1n any way appro riate to the g purposes for which it .is desi n, l.

In Fins. l2, 13 and 14', the.Y

a modified forni of sizing in the general configuration t that of a lizpped roei wit. ing trom a lf'entral ridgie.

The str notare ot the taole considered as a whole differs from that hereinhetore descrioed oniy in its `form and the disposition and errant ent of the several series ot' deectors an t irrugations or ridges on the respective ser ating surfaces. The. root-shaped table is mounted upon links E supported trein the C, as hereinhetorc describedN but, et course, the links are all of the saine size, 3 r the reason that the two inclined sides of the table are syninietrical with respect to tlongitudinal axis of the apparatus. iii motion is connected as in 9 to .f means of a connecting rod d to a poi under the v l, nd the cush- .stantially as i i'iescriloed,

divided spending sizing surfaces o of the deck or tahle it. are mon distrihuter i or the thefiiront end of tahh torni and having u corrugations or z" tions of the r hat havin no in the length ci the tain tril'uitcr or iced section f defiector i fr transverse hatten t wl ich runs across the tahle in both directions serves to divide the adiaecnt separating sections and also to support the. distributor t. The purpose of providingr the feed sections c' and 'i' with corrugations or ridges corresponding to the corrugation's on the first defiectors F is to enahle the material to spread out over the surtace of the distrihuters before encoun? tering the incline of the respective first detlcctors. lt will he understood, ot' course. that the material ted to the respective distributors i. i" Yfrom spoutsv or chutes located directly over the ridge-like portion of the tablc'so that the material flows in both directions and is delivered to the four sections of the tahle. i

Each section ot the ta ble is provided with deflectors F haring thereon corrugations or ridges G, as hereinlielfor'e described, The several detlectors are otA successively increas ing inclination 'tro i the head motion end ot upon the ,inclined faces of the respective dcflectors itk there are provlded the corrugations or ridges (i which decrease in size'on the successive deflectors, which eorrugations l or ridges also increase in pitch or inclina- 'tion from the hottom to the top ot' each separate deflector, as indicated by the lines on the inclined surfaces of the defiectol's. The deflectors and also the tan'rugations or ridges thereon, in this torni ot the apparatus, are'laid out accordingY to the principle illustrated in Figs. 46 and 8. A

At the ioot of eachdefiector the deck or table is provided with chutes or runways S which serveto collect the sized materials discharged from the 1espectivedetlectors and to deliver the same to appropriate recepta'cles.

ln Fig. 15, there Iis illustrated another arrangement ot table consisting of two hipped or roof-shaped decks in superposed relation, so that when the material is ted to distrihuters similar to those illustrated in Figs. l2: and 13, said material will he operated upon vby one of either tour or eight separating sections accordingr to the length of the table. In other words, the modification shown in Fig. l5 may involvea duplication of the tahle shown in Fig. l2, one superposed above and separated from the other, or in the alternative, the arrangement may involve two separatiiurY sections on each deck A, A, one separating section only beinglocated on the respective inclines. The superposed decks may be spaced from each other and held rigidly inthe desired relation by means ot straps or bars A2, as indicated.

ln all the forms ot apparatus disclosed, when the mixedmatcrial is fed to the separating surfaces of the deck o-r table, the coarsest material is the first to encounter a defiector to divert it trom a forward to a downward course, while the next coarser material passes over this detlector; hut up'on encountering a deector of sufficient inelination, it in turn is diverted to a downward course and so on, throughout the regular orderly1 operation ot' the apparatus and the application ot the process hereinbefore'particularly,described` until all of the material has been positively and definitely separated, collected and discharged trom the apparatus strictly according' to the size of the individual elements orparticles of the mass.l It will he understoothof course, that all 'oversized pieces of the material, which are and projecting pulsations applied to the un sized material atI an angle to the, direction of the force of gravity, progressively dumn- Vishing the effect of the projecting pulsat ions,

simultaneously and progressively increasing theefl'ect of the force ot' gravity. and separately collecting the different sizes.

' 2. The method of sizing solid materials,

' which consists in subjecting the unsized ma'- terial to the action of gravity while supported upon an inclined surface, imparting projecting pulsations to the material which act at an angle tothe direction of the torce of gravity, progressively diminishing the etl'eet of the projecting pulsations. simultaneously and progressively increasing the 'etl'eet ot the torce ol' gravity. and .separately spectively. and separately collecting the dit'- ferent sizes.

il. The method otE sizing solid materials upon a laterally inclined surface` which consists in lieedingthe nnsized material to said surface. iinparting |n'oiecting pulsations to said I naterial to intermittently advance and lift the same, int'erposing successively increasing resistance substantially at right angles to the direction ot movement ot the material due to said pulsations. simultaneonsly interposing successively increasing resistance to the moven'ient ot.thc material due to gravity. and separately collecting the different sizes.

'lhe method ot sizing solid materials upon an inclined surtaee. which consists in same,

feeding nnsized material to said si1t"liace,.i|n parting projecting pulsations to said inaterial to intermittently advance and lil'tr the and simnltaneonsly, progressively changing the ratio of the component. of gravity to that ot the projectile force. to correspond to successively decreasing volume values, and separately collecting the different sizes.

ti. ln a machine for sizing solid materials. means for Isupporting the unsized material. means for imparting projecting pulsations to such material to li'tt; and advance the same `with respect' to the supi'iorting means. means for interposing progressively increasing resistance to the advance movement ot the material, and means 'torseparately discharging the different sizes 'trom the machine.

7. ln a machine for sizing solid materials. means tor supporting the material. meansfol' imparting projecting pulsations to such material to lift and advance, the same wit-h respect to the supporting means, and means for intel-posing progressively increasing resistance to the advance movement of the material con'iprising inclined surfaces, disposed transversely of said movement and having progressively increasing pitch or inclinatiou.

8. ln a machine. t'or sizing solid materials, a separating deck. mechanism for imparting thereto sinniltzlneous longitudinal and vertical reciprocalions, and transversely extending di-lectprs on the u'pper surface of said deelt. ha ving inclined surfaces. the inclined surfaces ot' adjacent defleetors being ot' ditlerent pitch.

il. ln a nnlchine tor sizing solid materials, a. separating deck. mechanism for imparting thereto simultaneous longitudinal and vertical reeiprocations. inclined transversely arrailgedV detleetors on the upper surface of said deck.y and corrugations or ridges on the inclined surfaces ot' said dellectors and extending transversely across the saine.

lf). ln a lnachinc for sizing solid materials. a separating deck having its surface laterally disposed at an angle to its direction ot' movement. mechanism for ii'nparting thereto sinudtanemis. longitiulinal and vertical reciprmations. transversely arranged detlectors having inclined surfaces located on the separating surface of said deck.y and corrugations or ridges extending transversely across the inclined surfaces of the detlectfors.

l'l. Tn a machine for sizing solid materials, a laterally inclined separating deck, mecl'ianism for imparting thereto simulta- Aneous longitudinal and vertical reciprocat'ioiis` transversely extending dellectors hav ing inclined surfaces. said inclined surfaces heing of sncccssively increasing pitch, and corrugations orridges extending transversely across the inclined surfaces of the detlectors. i

12. ln a machine for sizing solid materials, a laterally inclined separating deck, mechanism for imparting thereto simultaneous loilgitndinal and vertical reciproca tions, transversely extending detiecttors having inclined surfaces, said inclined surfaces heing of successively increasing pitch. and eorrugations or ridges extending transversely across the inclined surfaces of the de tiectors. the corrngations on each rib being of successively increasing pitch from the top to thehottom of the detlector.

13. ln a machine for sizing solid materials. a laterally inclined separating deck,

mechanism for 'imparting thereto sunnlta` nee-.us longitudinal and vertical reciprocations. transversely extending deflectors having inclined surfaces, said inclined surfaces lieing of successively' increasing pitch, and corrngations or ridges extending' trans' versely across the inclind surfaces of the d efiectors, the coriiigatwns or ridges decreasing in4 size 0x1 the successive deiecfors.

14. An apparatus f or sizing solid materials, comprising means for imparting to a simultaneously and incrementally resisting the advanceinnmment of the material diie 1 0 in said projecting pulsations and to the ac- `from the machine.

i i tion of gravity respectively, and means or separately discharging the. dierent sizes In testimony whereof we afixoi'ir signatiires, in prcsenc of two. witnesses.

` CHRLES L. MCKESSON.

BENJAMIN F.C RICE.

Witnesses: l

H. M. Mason',l W. E. SMrrH'. 

